Apparatus for distributing materials on road and other surfaces



sept. s, 1931. C. G. Fox 1,822,207

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS ON ROAD AND OTHER SURFACES Sept. 8, 1931. Q G, FOX 1,822,207

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS ON ROAD AND OTHER SURFACES Filed June l2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as l 4) Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED ST TES razz/2,26?

P OFFICE CHARLES GEORGE FOX, OF LONDON, ENGLAND Application led June 12, 1930, Serial No. 460,76?, and in` Great Britain July 9, 1929.

This invention relates to apparatus mount ed upon road Wheels and thus constituting a vehicle for use in distributing material, for instance, asphalt, bitumen, tar and pitch oi the like, in a molten'condition or in the form of aqueous emulsions on the surfaces of roads and is particularly concerned with apparatus for the purpose in question in which the material to be distributed is delivered to a rotary distributor including, for instance a chamber through which extends a shaft carrying a distributing member adapted to be rot ted relatively to the walls of the chamber for the purpose of dispersing the material supplied thereto, the rotary distributor beingl actuated through the intermediary of an endless flexible member', such as a chain or belt or other driving connection from a wheel or wheels contacting with a road wheel.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the hind above rcferred to having means whereby the distance lv-ctween the rotary distributor and the road or other surface to be treated, or in other words, the height thereof from the ground, may be varied.

ln accordance with the invention, the rotary distributor is associated with means whereby it may be raised or lowered a whole while maintaining constant the length et' the driving connection between the same and a shaft on which a friction wheel or friction wheels contacting with a road wheel and actuating the distributor is or are mounted.

ln one construction arcuate members, whose centres of curvature substantiallyv coincide with the axis ot' rotation of the wheels contacting with the road wheels, are provided on the chassis or some portion of the frame of the vehicle and the distributor is arranged to be secured in position, through the intermediary of these arcuate members, at various points between their extremities, a flexible or pivotal tubular connection be ing provided between the container for the material to be distributed and the distributor.

For instance, in accordance with the invention, a pair of such arcuate members may be secured each by one of its ends to the tail of the vehicle or somo other convenient print on the trame or chassis, the other end or" each of these arcuate members being secures. to a extending at a suitable angle tron the vehicle frame, means being provided on the distributor1 or member associated therewith whereby the same may be locked or secured to the arcuate members at any one oi a plurality of positions, in order to vary the distance ot the distributor from the road or other surface on to which material i; lo be deposited.

For adjustably securing the distributor to the arcuate nien'ibers a plurality of holes may le pro.'ided in the latter through which and corresimndingl holes in a member associated with the distributor bolts or the like may be passed in order to maintain the distributor in the desired position with respect to the surface to which the material is to be deposited thereby.

In an alternative construction the distributor is rigidly secured to arcuate members adjustably mounted upon the vehicle.

lf desirable nece f y, the tubular connection between the distributor" and the container for the material to he distributed may be arranged to be extended or contracted according to *lo position in which the distributor is adpisted. above indicated, the connection may be constituted by a flexible pipe or the like. Alternatively, the pipe may be provided with elbows mounted in glands or he like provided on the distributor and on the container for the material to be distribtued or an extension thereof and in this case the pipe may be telescopic, o-r comprise a telescopic portion.

The invention will be described further in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :w

Figure l illustrates the tail portion of the frame ot a vehicle furnished with a rotary distributor, while Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively. views in plain and elevation illustrating one convenient construction of distributor, and

Figures and 5 are corresponding views of an alternative construction of distributor.

Referring to Figure l, l represents the tail portion of the trame of the vehicle, 2

one of a pair of arcuate members secured thereto and to a stay 3 also connected with the frame of the vehicle, 4 is the casing cnclosing the driving gear for he rotary distributor which is located within the conical housing 5, G is a sprocket through which the driving mechanism of the distributor if; operated, the sprocket in question being in d iving connection by means of the chain 'l with the sprocket 8 mounted upon the same shaft as the wheel 9 which makes frictional contact with one of the road wheels 1i) of the vehicle. 11 is an outlet for the emulsion from a tank 11a which is located on the frame of the vehicle, 1;. is an elbow pivotally connected there vith and provided with an extension 13 telescopically engaging the elbow 14 which is pivotally mounted in the conical housing of the distributor.

The distributor shown in full line in its extreme upper position and in dotted line in its extreme lower position and, as shown in the drawings, it is connected with the cross member 15 and the distributor may le secured in the positions indicated in tbe d rawings or in any of a plurality of intal nediae positions by means of bolts passed through flanges on the end of the member l5 and holes 16 in the arcuate members.

As will be understood, the distributor could, conveniently, be secured in asi-:ociation with arcuate members generally equivalent to the arcuate members which in turn are secured to the outer ends of stays f3, the other ends of which instead of being secured rigidly to the tail portion of the frame of the vehicle, as in the above construction, are provided with bearings engaging pins on the frame and in this case for securing the distributor at the desired height from the ground, holes equi valent to the holes 1G would, conveniently, be provided in the arcuate members, such holes being arranged to be engaged bj.' a pin or pins passing through one or other of the holes and eng1 fing corresponding holes in means associated, for instance, with the cross member, the distributor being, with this construction, rigidly secured to the arcuate members instead of being movable relatively thereto in the construction previously described.

Suitable forms of rotary distributors for use in apparatus in accordance with the invention are, as above indicated, ilhr-ftrated in Figures 2, 3, l and in which 1i' is the housing for the distributor, connected :is above described with the arcuate members 2, 18 is the inlet for the material to be distributed and 19 a shaft forming a driving connection between the sprocket (see Figure l) and the distributor.

1n the construction illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the housing terminates in a portion Q0 of conical form, the lower edge 21 of which is upturned to provide a peripheral channel Q2 i .4 do

Lszazo? into which a liquid fuel may be introduced and ignited for the purpose of heating the device, a conical member 23 provided with holes 2-1 being secured to the lower end of the housing. Adjacent to the outer face 0f the said member and secured to the aforesaid shaft is a member provided with a pluralit): of arms, the sides of which are notched as shown in Figure 2.

in the construction illustrated in Figures -land a, the sha ft 19 is secured to a conical bowl 2G provided with co-aXial partitions 27 forming annular spaces 28, and the bottom of the bowl is provided with openings 29 as shown in Figure 4.

in both of the constructions illustrated, the housing is provided with an inwardly directed flange Si() for the purpose of directing material entering through the inlet 18 towards the centre of the distributor.

The mate ial to be distributed on the road surface is supplied by way of the inlet 18 from the container to the space within the conical portion of the housing, and passing out by way of the holes 21 or 29, is, by rotation of the member provided with arms 2.3 (see Figures 2 and or of the conical bowl it', Figures l and projected or distributcd over the road surface.

lt is to be pointed out that the above detailed description is furnished for the purpose of assisting in the understanding of the nature of the invention and particularly describing certain constructions falling within its scope and that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a rotary distributor associated therewith, means adapted to frictionally enone of said road wheels in order to actuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between the first-mentioned means and the rotary distributor, and arcuate members secured to the vehicle and engaging the rotary distributor to permit raising or lowering of the same a whole to vary its distance from the road surface while maintaining ci'instant the length of the driving connection between the tirst-mentioned means and the rotary distributor.

2. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads coinl'irising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a container for material to be distributed associated therewith, a rotary distributor associated with said vehicle, flexible means connecting the container with the rotary distributor, a friction wheel mounted on a shaft and adapted frietionally to engage one of said road wheels in order to actuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between the friction wheel and the rotary distributor, and arcuate members adapted to engage the rotary distributor and to secure the same at any one of a plurality of distances above the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

3. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a rotary distributor associated therewith, a friction wheel mounted on a shaft and adapted frictionally to engage one of said road wheels in order to actuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between the said friction wheel and the rotary distributor, arcuate membe' located ou said vehicle and adapted at various points between their extremities to engage the rotary distributor and to secure the same at any one of a plurality of distances from the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the sha t and the rotary distributor.

et. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaies of roads comprising a Vehicle mounted uponL road wheels, a rotary distributor asfoeiated therewith, a friction wheel mounted on a shaft and adapted. frictionally to engage one of said road wheels in order to actuate the rotary distrillutor, a driving connection le tween the said friction wheel and the rotary distributor, arcuate members located on vehicle, means adapted to secure the rotary distributor to the arcuate members at any one of a plurality of positions in order to vary the distance of the rot-ary distributor as a whole from the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the drivng connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

5. Apparatus for use in distributing meterial in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a container for materai to distributed associated therewith, a rotary di tributor associated with said vehicle, flexible means connecting the container with the rotary distributor, a friction wheel mounted on a shaft and adapted frictionally to engage one of said road wheelsin order to actuate the rotary distributor, a drivingl connection between said friction wheel and the rotary distributor, arcuate membersI located on said vehicle, means adapted to secure the rotary distributor to the arcuate members at any one of a plurality of positions in order to vary the distance of the rotary distributor as whole from the road surface while maintaining constant. the length of the driving connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

6. Apparatus for use in distributing material in adliuid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon roadv wheels, a rotary distmibuhomaissociatcd therewith, a friction wheeliminted on a shaft and adapted frictionally'to engage one of said road wheels in order to actuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between the said friction wheel and the rotary distributor, arcuate members provided with holes located on said vehicle, a member associated with the rotary distributor and provided with holes corresponding with the holes in the arcuate members, bolts adapted to engage within the said holes to secure the rotary distributor to the arcuate members at any one of a plurality of positions in Vorder to vary the distance of the rotary distributor a whoie from the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

7. Apparatus for use in'distributing material in a fiuid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a container for material to be distributed associated therewith, a rotary distributor associated withsaid vehicle, flexible means connecting the container with the rotary distributor, a friction wheel mounted on a. shaft and adapted' frictionally to engage one of said road wheels yin order to'actuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between thesaid friction Wheel and the rotary distributor, arcuate members pro 'ided with holes located on said vehicle, a member associated with 'the rotary distributor and provided with holes corresponding with the holes in the arcuate members, bolts adapted to engage within the said holes to secure the rotary distributor to the arcuate members at any one of a plurality of positions 'in order to vary the distance of the rotary distributor as a whole from the road surface while maintaining constant lthe length of the vdriving connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

8. Apparatus for use for distributing material in .fluid condition on the surfaces of roads comprising a vehicle mounted upon road wheels, a container for material to be distributed associated therewith, a conical housing associated with said vehicle, flexible means connecting the container with the said housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a conical bowl provided with eoaXial partitions, secured to said shaft and adapted upon rotation of the same to distribute the material over the road surface, a friction wheel adapted to engage one of said road wheels in order to aetuate the said conical bowl, a driving connection between said friction wheel and the shaft, arcuate members located on said vehicle and provided with holes, a member associated with the conical housing and provided with holes correspond- Y ing with the holes in the arcuate members adapted to accommodate bolts to secure the conical housingftithe arcuate members at any one of a plurality of positions above the road surface whiihemaintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the second mentioned shaft and the shaft secured to the conical bowl.

9. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads, comprising a vehicle mounted upon road Wheels, a tank for material to be distributed associated therewith, a rotary distributor associated with the vehicle, means adapted to frictionally engage one of said road wheels in order to aetuate the rotary distributor, a driving connection between the first-mentioned means and the rotary distributor, an adjustable support for the rotary distributor connected with the vehicle adapted to permit raising or lowering of the same as a whole to vary its distance from the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the firstmentioned means and the rotary distributor, and a swivelling tubular connection between the rotary distributor and the tank.

l0. Apparatus for use in distributing material in a fluid condition on the surfaces of roads, comprising avehiclemounted upon road wheels, a tank for material to be distributed associated therewith, a rotary distributor associated with said vehicle, flexible means connecting the container with the rotary distributor, a friction wheel mounted on a shaft and adapted frictionally to engage one of said road Wheels in order to actuate the rotary distributor, a support for the rotary distributor connecting the same with the vehicle, and fastening means associated with the support adapted to secure the rotary distributor at any one of a plurality of distances above the road surface while maintaining constant the length of the driving connection between the shaft and the rotary distributor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES GEORGE FOX. 

